Lambing Welfare: Supporting Ewes and Newborn Lambs

The lambing period is the highest-welfare-risk period in sheep production, requiring skilled stockmanship and appropriate facilities to minimise mortality and suffering.

Key Facts

UK sheep flocks produce approximately 14 million lambs annually with significant mortality
Hypothermia is the most common cause of lamb death in the first 24 hours
Dystocia (difficult birth) causes severe pain and risks death for both ewe and lamb if untreated
Colostrum intake within 6 hours of birth is essential for lamb immune competence and survival
Extended lambing periods at pasture are lower welfare for early-born lambs facing cold weather

Welfare Considerations

Lambing welfare depends on the intersection of preparation, facilities and skilled stockmanship. Ewes in dystocia experience severe pain that worsens with time if intervention is delayed. Newborn lambs are highly vulnerable to hypothermia, starvation and predation in the first 24 hours. The welfare cost of inadequate supervision during lambing is measured in avoidable deaths and suffering. Appropriate investment in covered lambing facilities, dedicated stockmanship during intensive lambing and clear protocols for when to seek veterinary assistance prevents most preventable lambing welfare problems.

What You Can Do

Support farms with covered lambing facilities and adequate stockmanship ratios during lambing
Advocate for lambing welfare training requirements for all sheep flock managers
Choose lamb from farms with documented low lambing mortality rates
Support research into effective preventive strategies for the most common lambing welfare problems